Glorified Death of Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text:  When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified; 32 if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.' 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." JN. 13:31-33A, 34-35

Reflection: Is it an incident that is about to take place or an incident that has already taken place: "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified.” (vs. 31)

How many of us can prophesy about our life and future; an incident that we believe is about to take place.

Rarely so and even if we can, then how many of us can confidently affirm their death as a glorious one.

Christ’s death, by human standards, was no glorious death but yet even to this day we see the glory of this death and rejoice because our salvation was achieved by the death of Jesus on the cross.

It is this death that Jesus is talking about in the farewell discourse in John’s gospel which begins with the thirteenth chapter of John; he identifies his death with the glory of God.

The death of Jesus was a necessary event in the history of humanity, which proves God as truth.  Any claim that Jesus death was caused by a body double or any other theory which contradicts scripture presents God as:

1) A deceiver and selfish creator who only looks to his own interest.

2) Least concerned about humanity and its many sufferings.

3) Wanting to keep people in the dark about the higher realities of life.

What use is God's salvation, if he has to keep people in the dark about his nature and goodness if any? 

In this world we live we could have a situation where people could be deceived by a lie and accordingly may follow it, even after an immediate assertion of truth with proofs.

One of the powerful message about the glory of Jesus is the existence of a dark reality of deception, which we as Christian know is brought about by  the spiritual forces of wickedness in the highest place.

None of us have been directly instrumental in the crucifixion of Jesus but it nevertheless speaks about a reality of us walking in deception and thus as collaborators in the crucifixion of Christ. 

Prayer:  Lord, we rejoice in your cross which is your power and wisdom for all men who choose to believe in you by responding to your merciful grace.

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